| Cocktail bitters have been a very popular additive in alcoholic drinks since their introduction in the 1800s. They are typically made of herbs, roots, and plants that have a bitter or bittersweet taste. Many people believe that bitters add a bitter taste to cocktails, but that is not usually true. Cocktail bitters make the other flavors in drinks more pronounced and enhanced. Cocktail bitters should be added in small quantities so that they enhance drinks rather than overpowering them.
Bitters were originally created to be a digestive aid for the stomach, not a cocktail additive. Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert was a doctor from Germany who created a secret blend of plants and herbs to cure stomach illnesses when he was visiting Venezuela. In 1824 he created Angostura Bitters, which is still the most popular brand of cocktail bitters. These bitters were named for a town in Venezuela and were not used as ingredients in cocktails until they reached Trinidad and England. Bitters are still used as a digestive aid and cure for an upset stomach when mixed with water or ginger ale. They are also used in small amounts in cooking to add flavor.
Classic cocktails made with bitters are increasing in popularity in many bars both public and personal. Bitters are a necessary ingredient in classic cocktails such as Martini Cocktail, Sazarac, and the Old Fashioned. Orange bitters were an important ingredient in the original version of the martini. Three Mile Long Island Iced Tea, Latin Manhattan, and Metropolitan are more drinks that use bitters to enhance the flavor.
There are many flavors of bitters and they are great for increasing depth in popular drinks and balancing the flavors of drinks with many ingredients. Fruits and herbs are popular flavorings used in the manufacturing of bitters. Some of the most commonly found are lemon, grapefruit, mint, peach, rhubarb, and orange. Cocktail bitters generally contain a high concentration of alcohol and should be added in small dashes to mixed drinks and never consumed on their own.
Cocktail bitters are an essential addition to every bar. Their popularity had waned in recent years, but cocktail bitters are definitely becoming popular again. John Bartlett created a "Dictionary of Americanisms" in 1848 when bitters were first popular. His definition of cocktail was a stimulating beverage made of liquor such as gin or brandy mixed with sugar, bitters, and a very small amount of water. |
